Introduction to TV Drama
1) What is serial television drama? Write your own definition.
Serial television drama have narratives which gets resolved in different parts and is set over a period of time.
2) List five of the TV dramas discussed in the history of the genre on page 1 of the factsheet. How has the genre evolved over time?
- Doctor Who (1963-Present)
- The Avengers (1961-1969)
- Starsky & Hutch (1975-1979)
- Hill Street Blues (1981-1987)
- Dallas (1978-1991; 2012-2014)
Before, all the shooting was done on a stage and with a videotape with actors who had a theatre background as they were used to learning a new set of line each week. Then independent companies came and started to record on film as it was much clearer. These were aimed at a domestic market. Today, all production are made with film, like films. Until 1980's, many US television drama series followed set narratives and a resolution at the end of the week. These introduced guest stars. The next episode started, being completely different to the previous episode (new narratives). Hill Street Blues made these into more of a serial type of drama. Crime stories then went over a number of episodes. Character arcs were then introduced across whole seasons.
- Police Procedural (crime) - Monk
- Medical - ER
- Period (costume) - Peaky Blinders
- Science-fiction/fantasy - Stranger Things
- Family - The Addams Family (1964)
- Teen - Glee
4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?
It allows the drama to develop over a period of time. It communicates the narrative and sub-genre of what the audience is expecting, using recognisable and regularly used settings also helps communicate to the audience.
5) How do TV dramas typically use character? What audience pleasures can be linked to character in TV drama? (Hint: Uses & Gratifications theory!)
They create characters to represent the audiences. Blumer and Katz: Uses & Gratification - personal identity & personal relationships - can be applied to this. By representing their audience in the characters, the audience then identify and see themselves in that character e.g. an audience of school students can see themselves when they watch a drama based at a school around the lives of students. Also, we create bonds and relationships with these characters and want to always find out what happens to the character during the storyline e.g. you might feel sad if a character dies.
6) What is a multi-strand narrative? Give an example of a TV drama that features a multi-strand narrative.
A multi-strand narrative is when there are many narratives happening the same time.
7) What is a cold opening?
This is when the drama opens on the story to introduce it, then the title sequence follows.
8) How can Todorov's theory of equilibrium be applied to TV drama serials?
The drama might start of with everything being stable (equilibrium) or start off with the problem (disequilibrium). This will usually be resolved by the end of the episode or down the line in a different episode (new equilibrium)
9) What is the typical form for TV dramas and how are the programmes typically distributed to an audience?
They formed as seasons and episodes. In the US they are scheduled as twenty-four one-hour episodes, spanning half a calendar year. They rely on funding from advertising. They use more mainstream ideologies and violence. Usually distributed through online streaming services.
10) How have subscription channels (such as HBO) and streaming services (such as Netflix and Amazon Prime) changed the form and content of TV dramas?
9) What is the typical form for TV dramas and how are the programmes typically distributed to an audience?
They formed as seasons and episodes. In the US they are scheduled as twenty-four one-hour episodes, spanning half a calendar year. They rely on funding from advertising. They use more mainstream ideologies and violence. Usually distributed through online streaming services.
10) How have subscription channels (such as HBO) and streaming services (such as Netflix and Amazon Prime) changed the form and content of TV dramas?
As they are not governed by the same considerations, they allow for much more adult content.
11) Choose a TV drama and do your own analysis of it using the SETTING / CHARACTERS / NARRATIVE / FORM headings as featured on page 3 of the factsheet.
SETTING
- In this specific scene, it is set in a house - usually set wherever a murder takes place.
CHARACTERS
- Follows the detective, Jessica Fletcher (main character), the police officer and the Doctor who solve murders and catch the killers.
NARRATIVE
- Episodic narrative - each episode is resolved, each having a new murder.
FORM
- Distributor: CBS Television
- Running Time: 48 minutes
12) How might the TV drama genre evolve in future?
As audiences consume content in different ways, serial dramas may become more diverse and targeted to a niche audience.
A/A* extension task: TV Drama v Film
Building on question 12 above, read this fascinating extended article comparing TV drama to film. It will also help to bridge the gap between our work on the film industry and our new topic of TV drama. Where do you stand on the debate? Is TV drama the key medium of storytelling or will cinema always be king?
Building on question 12 above, read this fascinating extended article comparing TV drama to film. It will also help to bridge the gap between our work on the film industry and our new topic of TV drama. Where do you stand on the debate? Is TV drama the key medium of storytelling or will cinema always be king?
In my opinion, film and cinema will always be king. Firstly, TV dramas mainly rely on dialogue to get their narrative across and also word of mouth to gain publicity. However, film and cinema use much more to get narratives across. Film and cinema use their cinematography, editing, sound and mise-en-scene, which communicates a lot within short time, without using dialogue.
Comments
Post a Comment